In 2025, 75 years since the Eudunda CFS was established, the current brigade is certainly well-equipped, both in facilities and skills, to support the community in times of need.
Speaking with First Lieutenant, Mike Prior, Brigade Captain, Thomas Prior, and Second Lieutenant David Scholz, The Leader learned about the many facilities the brigade has on hand, and the many volunteer roles within the organisation.
Mike explained that it was a fire on his parents’ farm when he was growing up, which inspired him to take up the CFS.
“Before I did join up, there were a number of fires around the area, and back in those days there was nothing much in the way of firefighting equipment,” Mike said.
“We used to have buckets of water, and we’d put jute bags in the buckets and have them totally saturated and that so you get them as a beater to go out and put the fire out.
“So, I went out to a couple like that and then I met up with the CFS, well EFS guys back in those days, and then that’s when I decided, ‘well, this is it, I’m going to join and go from there’.”
Mike has also been heavily involved in compiling much of the historic details for the Eudunda CFS’ 75th anniversary celebration next weekend.
He shared that while revisiting some of the emergencies of the past has reopened some old wounds, he feels that the work the local brigade does is essential to protecting the community
“I look at it this way, we’re here for the community. The community need people to do things to help, and we’re here to support the community and, and get out there and protect their life and property,” Mike said.
“…I look at it, even if there’s been bad times through the lot, in 48 years, I’m still here.”
Continuing a family tradition, Mike’s son Thomas is now Brigade Captain at Eudunda CFS, having been a volunteer since 2001.
Over the years, Thomas says he has seen the CFS crews become much more specialised with the skillsets that volunteers can acquire, from upgrades to equipment and appliances, to training in specific areas like road crash rescue.
While those who are out on the trucks are maybe the most visible CFS volunteers, there are a great many roles and capacities within the organisation which people can get involved with, from fundraising to manning the radios and managing administration.
“You get exposure to types of events and training that you wouldn’t get in normal life, so whether it be on the radios, even just at the station...and manning the station, you don’t necessarily have to go out on the fire truck,” Thomas said.
“You could be a member of the brigade and just come in and help do admin and the radios when there’s a major incident.
“But for firefighting stuff, you have the opportunity to do road crash rescue, compressed air breathing apparatus or structure fires…
“It can be very rewarding, obviously, when you’ve done a good job and you’ve helped people out, which is good, but yeah, there’s a lot of work in the background.”
David Scholz joined Eudunda CFS in 1997, and while he started out as a firefighter, his experience with automotives meant his role gravitated towards road crash rescue.
Some of the most significant memories he has from over his 28 years with the brigade are when the Eudunda crew would assist at large bushfires, like those on the Yorke Peninsula in 2019.
“You’ve got to have faith in everyone, everyone has their strengths and not so high strengths, but you know who you can rely on in the heat of the moment and you’re not going to put anyone in deeper that you know they can handle,” David said.
With a celebration planned for next weekend, the Eudunda CFS is inviting the entire community to join in as they share a great many stories from throughout the brigade’s history, relics from which will then be lowered into a time capsule to be stored on the site.
